A former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-oyegun, has charged the party’s leaders to be more progressive and responsive to the demands for change and restructuring from different sections of the country.
Mr Oyegun gave the charge at the public presentation of a book ’APC’S Litmus Tests, Nigerian Democracy and Politics of Change’, written by Dr Salihu Lukman, Director-General, Progressives Governors Forum (PGF) in Abuja.
“We are in charge today, a progressive government, a progressive regime and I think it is proper that we show to the nation that when the people want some degree of change, we should be responsive to it, we should address it,” Oyegun said.
He added that the APC document on true federalism was still being worked upon before its release.
Oyegun said the ideas of people from different parts of the country would be different up to the extent that they would want to go with the proposals in the document.
He said it was mandatory in the interest of the survival of the country that issues regarding federalism were addressed.
“We cannot continue to allow the subject to become something that threatens our nation at any turn.
“So, the earlier we address it, the earlier we show that as a party we are responsive to the feelings of the people, the desires of the people and the wants of the people. It becomes easier then to diffuse the kind of stresses that the nation is passing through today,” he said.
Also on efforts to rebuild and strengthen the party, Mr Oyegun pointed out the need for APC to obey its rules and treat every member fairly.
“It is very fundamental that in all we do, the rank-and-file members of the party generally, are able to see that even when they lose, they have been treated fairly, they have been treated decently,” Oyegun said.
Also speaking at the occasion was the chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum and Kebbi state governor, Atiku Bagudu who said APC is aware of the challenges Nigerians are facing and is taking the necessary step to address these challenges.
“The party is not shy to acknowledge that our constitution is not perfect and again under John Oyegun, the El-Rufai Committee on True Federalism was created to look at those issues that we should do better about.
“APC believe is let us amend the constitution because society is dynamic not because somebody has been wronged and cheated,” Bagudu said.
On his part, the author of the book, Mr Salihu Lukman said the objective of the book was to contribute perspectives to APC leaders and members on challenges facing the party, government and the nation.
“All leaders and members of APC are therefore invited to engage challenges facing the party, government and the nation with every confidence and belief in the capacity of Nigerians to support every patriotic and nationalistic initiative.
“We must never allow the loud noise of selfish political entrepreneurs to hoodwink Nigerians into believing that our party and governments produced by our party have failed.
“It will be a mockery of our political history to allow any narrative in the public space, which suggest that compared to previous administrations since 1999, APC controlled administration led by President Muhammadu Buhari has failed.
“Like President Muhammadu Buhari himself has acknowledged, there are no doubt challenges facing the country, but no administration since 1999 has succeeded in completing projects, whether initiated by previous or current governments,” Lukman said.
Zainab Sa’id
